Demonstrators show solidarity with Palestine in Turkey’s largest city

World Bulletin / News Desk

Thousands of people flocked to Istanbul’s Yenikapi Square on Sunday, protesting the U.S. move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Palestinian ambassador to Ankara Faed Mustafa was among the protestors. Speaking at the rally, Mustafa said: “The peace can never be prevailed without independence of Palestine and Palestine cannot be an independent state without Jerusalem as its capital.”

He went on to say Jerusalem was not the capital of Israel. “It is sacred land on the earth. Israel occupied it forcibly.

Women and men of all ages, student groups, and families came together to show solidarity with Palestinians in the rally titled -- Jerusalem belongs to Islam -- organized by Felicity party.

Speaking at the rally, the Chairman of Felicity Party Temel Karamollaoglu described Jerusalem cause as the "biggest Jihad of the Muslims".

"Today Jerusalem is not just a city, a place, and a sacred city. It is [also] a symbol of cause, [and] resistance," said Karamollaoglu.

In his remarks, he urged all Muslim countries to declare Jerusalem as Palestine's capital and cut their economic, military and diplomatic relations with Israel.

"An independent Palestinian state with the capital of Jerusalem will be founded sooner or later," Karamollaoglu added.